Kukla's Korner Hockey

, The National Hockey League is close to reaching a contract extension with NBC that would keep hockey on the U.S. network through the 2009-10 season.
Sources say the two sides are in "serious discussions" and could complete the deal in the next few weeks. A profit-sharing agreement between the NHL and NBC has a year to run.
The extension is tied to NBC's strategy to use NHL content to increase interest in the game over the next four years and improve audiences for its coverage of the Vancouver Olympic hockey tournament in 2010.
The new deal is expected to involve a rights fee, but there's no news on the amount. NBC and the NHL reported a profit from last year's partnership, but a dollar value wasn't given.